The Declaration of Absolution, or Re-
mission of Sins; (8.) to be made by the
PRIEST alone, (9.) standing; (10.) the
People still kneeling.

ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death

transacting with him the grand affair of repentance, and reconciliation to his favour, upon which their everlasting happiness depends. Let them therefore not behave themselves after a careless and slovenly manner; let them not utter the words in such a tone as betokens irreverence, and proves that they do not mind what they say, or to whom they speak; but consider the vast importance of the duty of prayer, and the indispensable necessity of a due performance of it, and that confession of sins is the most solemn part of prayer. Let these considerations sink deep into them, and prevail upon them so to perform this duty, that it may obtain a remission, and not add to the number of their sins. Dr. Bennet.

And especially they should remember, that, since none are fit to pray till they have confessed their sins, it is necessary for every one to come early to prayers, and always to be there so soon as to join in this Confession, which, if duly considered, will greatly assist and direct us in the exercise of our repentance. Dean Comber.

(7.) There is nothing that we do in this world comparable to the public acts and exercises of religion; and therefore nothing deserves or requires a greater solemnity. For which reason the Church requires us, in all our prayers and confessions, to be on our knees: for which we have the example of our Saviour, and of all good men in all ages, who have always performed their public devotions with humble and lowly gestures, and most commonly in this particular posture of kneeling. Dr. Hole.

And that posture in prayer, especially in this part, hath not only ancient authority but nature itself, on its side: and doth so strongly both express and excite inward humility, that it should never be omitted wilfully, or negligently, in favour of ease and indolence: considerations, very unworthy of notice at such a time. Still they, whose infirmities will not permit them to be on their knees without pain or hurt, may doubtless allowably stand, or even sit: for God" will have mercy, and not sacrifice." Matt. ix. 13; xii. 7. And farther; as in many full congregations this rule cannot be observed by every one without taking up more room than can with convenience be spared; certainly the superior rule, of doing "the things wherewith one may edify another," Rom. xiv. 19, binds us rather to be content with standing though a

of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, hath given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who

less eligible posture, than exclude numbers of our fellow Christians from being tolerably accommodated for joining in worship with us. For kneeling, though greatly preferable, is not prescribed as indispensably necessary. "The children of Israel," we read in the book of Nehemiah, "were assembled fasting," and, probably for the reason just mentioned, "stood and confessed their sins," Nehem. ix. 2. The penitent publican did not fail of being accepted, though he stood, when he said, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Luke xviii. 13. And on some days the early Christians did not kneel at all. Abp. Secker.

Kneeling is the attitude prescribed to us in this solemn act of confession. This visible expression of humility will be adopted, so far as circumstances will permit, by every faithful worshipper. Undoubtedly every reasonable allowance will be made for age and bodily infirmity: but a wilful negligence, or a fashionable carelessness, in this part of our devotions must be unjustifiable, and therefore inexcusable. Rogers.

* At the General Convention of 1835, the House of Bishops, at the instance of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, expressed the following opinions, which have been adopted as the rule of the Church, viz:

It is the opinion of the Bishops, that a regard to uniformity with what is practised in other parts of the Liturgy, and also the avoiding a needless addition to the length of the service, and to its most decent performance, requires that in repeating the General Confession in the Morning and Evening Prayer, the people should unite with the minister in saying it after him in the same manner as 19 usually practised in saying the Creeds, the Lord's Prayer, and the Confession in the Communion Service. It is also their opinion that in those parts of the Liturgy in which the minister and people unite in saying the whole, as in the Confession, the Creeds, the Lord's Prayer, the Gloria in Excelsis, the Trisagion, and the Last Prayer for Ash-Wednesday, the word "Amen" should be printed in the Roman letters, and the minister unite with the people in saying it; and that in all cases where the word "Amen" is the response of the people to what the minister alone says, it should be printed in italics.

T. C. B.

(8.) Pardon of sin and reconciliation with God through the atoning sacrifice and righteousness of

truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel. Wherefore, let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit; that those things may please him

Christ, are the grand peculiarities of the Gospel. It is one of the distinguishing excellencies of the Church, and a characteristic which must greatly endear her services to all who worship within her courts, that she keeps these blessed peculiarities of the Gospel constantly in view. It appears to be her especial object to do so in the interesting part of the Liturgy which now comes under our consideration ;-THE ABSOLUTION.

In the Rubrick which precedes the Absolution it is designated as follows:-" The declaration of Absolution, or remission of sins; to be made by the PRIEST alone, standing; the people still kneeling."

This Rubrick has been slightly altered from that in the English Book. It is there called "The Absolution, or remission of sins, to be pronounced, fc." The alteration was probably made in consequence of some objections which had been brought against the English Rubrick, and is calculated to remove all grounds of cavil. The objections could have been deserving of no great weight, for the form of the Absolution is clearly declaratory, and must have sufficiently explained the Rubrick; and though the word "pronounced" is derived from the Latin pronuncio, which sometimes signifies to give sentence, yet in its common acceptation, it signifies no more than to make declaration.

In the English Liturgy there are three several Forms of Absolution. The first is declaratory. It is used after the general Confession, in the Morning and Evening service, and is the same as that which stands first in order in our Liturgy. It is solemn promulgation of pardon, by a person duly authorised and commissioned to publish it, to all who unfeignedly repent, and sincerely believe in the way of salvation unfolded in the Gospel. The second is petitionary, and stands after the Confession in the Communion Service. It is retained in the same place in our Liturgy, and is moreover authorised to be used after the general Confession in the morning and evening service, instead of the declaratory form. In this petitionary absolution, the Minister as an Embassador of God, first lays down the divine promise of pardon, upon the conditions of faith and repentance, and then, upon this ground, in the same character, begs God to make the promise good.-The third Form, in the English Book, is more authoritative and judicial. It is used in the Office for the "Visitation of the Sick," after the penitent has made special confession of his sins; and only upon his "humble and hearty

which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

desire" of it. The Minister here says "By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins," &c. The English commentators have generally considered this Form as relating only to the absolution and remission of Ecclesiastical censures, but the compilers of our Liturgy have prudently omitted it altogether, since it is susceptible of a different interpretation, which may be thought to savour too much of the abuses of absolution in the Romish Church. It has indeed been ably vindicated from any such imputation, but as it was not thought expedient to give it a place in our Liturgy, it is not necessary to give, in this place, any abstract of the arguments by which it has been defended.

Of the two Forms of Absolution used in our Liturgy, the first in order was composed for King Edward's second edition of the Book of Common Prayer. This edition was prepared with the assistance of several distinguished foreign Protestants of the Presbyterian Communion; and the Absolution, so far from countenancing any Romish superstition, was levelled directly against the doctrines of Popery. The Papish Absolutions were given in private, separately to each particular person, positively and without any reservation or condition, in the name of the Priest alone, and by his authority as derived solely from the chair of St. Peter. Our Absolution is given in public, to the whole congregation at once, on the condition that they are truly penitent, and solely in the name and by the authority of God.

The second form was used both in the Greek and Latin Churches, in their primitive state, and scarce any other form is to be found in their Rittuals, or in Ecclesiastical History, till within the last four or five hundred years. It is borrowed immediately from the Liturgy of the Greek Church; where it is sometimes expressed with slight variations, as "Almighty God pardon you, by me, his unworthy servant," &c. Or, "Lord pardon them; for thou hast said, whose sins ye remit, they are remitted," &c.-Sometimes expressing, and always including, God's commission.

Concerning the special efficacy of the declaration of Absolution, there has been much diversity of sentiment. Some have considered the office as of no more import or efficacy than a mere declaration of the terms of pardon, which any private Christian might make, since these terms are plainly expressed in the Gospel. Others have gone to an opposite extreme, bordering on the Romish supersti

The People shall answer here, and at the end of every Prayer, Amen. Or this. (11.)

tions. The Church clearly considers it as a ministerial act, which the priest, as an Embassador of Christ, has received " power and commandment " to perform, upon certain conditions; and when the conditions are sincerely complied with, she supposes that God will give validity to what is thus done by his authority and in his name. She considers it more than the declaration of a private Christian, and as a function pertaining to those in whom is committed "the ministry of reconciliaion." (2 Cor. v. 18.) She finds its efficacy on the sacerdotal Commission; "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost-And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world-As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you-Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (Matt. xxviii. 19, 20; and John xx. 21, 23.) This power of the remission of sins, the Church, therefore, supposes to be derived from the Apostles to their successors;-with this abatement, that the Apostles had the power of discerning the spirits and hearts of men, which their successors have not, and who can only pronounce conditionally. It is most true indeed, that God alone can forgive sins, for he is the sole author of all blessings, both temporal and spiritual; but that he can declare his gracious assurances of pardon, and convey his blessings to us, by what means and instruments he thinks fit, is no less certain. In whatever way he vouchsafes to do it, it is our duty humbly and thankfully to receive them, and not to dispute his wisdom in the choice of those means and instruments. It is no absurdity to say that God pardons, when the declaration of Absolution is made by his Minister, in the way of his appointment, and upon the conditions of the Gospel : Nor is it an invasion of the prerogatives of God; any more than it tends to impair the privileges of a temporal Governor, when an Officer of his appointment delivers a sealed pardon to a condemned malefactor. And if, when the declaration is made by the Minister, according to the evangelical conditions, any present should not be truly pardoned, it will not be for want of authority in the Priest, but for want of real penitence in the person.

As this Rubrick originally stood in the second book of King Edward VI. the office was called "The Absolution," simply ;-the words " or remission of sins," were added, by way of explication, by the authority of the conference at Hampton Court, in the reign of King James First, for

(9.) The Rubrick prescribes that the "declaration of Absolution" shall be "made by the PRIEST alone." That is, by the Priest, not only in contradistinction to the people, but likewise to the inferior order of Deacons. The authority being derived from the Apostles to their successors (John xx. 23) is by the office of Ordination conferred on the order of Priests alone, and not on that of Deacons.-The word Priest, in the Rubrick, has been substituted in the place of Minister, which is in some respects equivocal. This was done by order of the Savoy Conference. The Presbyterian Divines who attended the Conference, required that the word Minister should be used throughout the Book of Common Prayer. But the Bishops replied that there were some offices which a Deacon might not perform, "particularly the Absolution and Consecration," and that it was necessary to preserve the word Priest, for the purpose of distinguishing the two orders. They therefore refused to make the alteration required, and even directed the word Priest to be inserted in this Rubrick instead of Minister, to prevent any misapprehension of its meaning. As a further guard against mistake, the word is printed in Roman Capitals, in the American Book, while the rest of the Rubrick is in Italics.

If it should be enquired what course the officiating Deacon is to pursue, when he comes to the declaration of Absolution? The answer seems to be obvious;-He should remain kneeling, and proceed with the Lord's Prayer. If it were admissable to interpolate any thing not expressly authorized, a preference might be given to the collect for AshWednesday. This is a prayer for pardon and sanctification, and may be regarded as a precatory Absolution.

repentance and true faith, turn unto him; have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (12.)

his people by the mouth of his Priest: While the attitude of kneeling, betokens, on the part of the people, the humility, contrition and reverence, with which they ought to receive the gracious message of pardon to the penitent.

The declaration of Absolution, which stands first in order in our service, consists of three parts: The general official promulgation of the pardoning mercy of God to the repentant sinner:-The special, conditional declaration of pardon, founded on it; and an exhortation to the people to unite with the Minister in imploring God to grant them true repentance and the assistance of his Holy Spirit, that they may be enabled to perform the conditions required of them, and thus render his pardon effectual to their everlasting salvation.

The Absolution commences, like some of the Epistles of the Apostles, by representing Almighty God, in the character of "The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;" and in him, "the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort." (2 Cor. i. 3.) And nothing surely can be more proper for humble penitents, after having confessed their sins to God, than to consider him as the fountain of all goodness, derived to them through the merits of his blessed Son. For the confirmation of our faith, and in condescension of our infirmities, God has declared to us, and verified it to us by an oath, that he "desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live." Such a declaration is calculated alike to prevent our presumption and our despair; and shows us that if God desires our happiness as the end, he also wills our holiness as the means. He would have us live in his eternal glory, but his desires cannot be accomplished, unless we turn from our wickedness by repentance. It is upon this, and similar declarations of the mercy of God, and in virtue of the "power and commandment" derived from him, through the ministerial Commission, that the Priest is authorized to say, "He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel."-The minister does not presume to pardon or absolve in his own right, nor to publish absolution in his own name, but only in the name or power of Gcd. "He pardoneth and absolveth ;”— The word "He" refers to Almighty God, at the commencement of the Absolution. Nor is the declaration absolute, and without condition or limitation: it is restricted to such only as "truly repent and unfeignedly believe his Holy Gospel." But as

Then the Minister shall kneel, and say the Lord's Prayer; (13.) the People still kneeling, and repeating it with him, both here, and wheresoever else it is used in Divine Service.

OUR Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed

the minister pronounces pardon only to the penitent, he pronounces it effectually to all who are so; nor will it be withheld from any who are qualified to receive it. And here it is the duty of all, silently to pray to God that he will confirm and give efficacy to this declaration of his Minister, and enable them effectually to fulfil the conditions of faith and repentance required of them. These are by Christ and the Apostles, made the conditions of all the Gospel promises. (Mark i. 15; Acts xx. 21.) They who have these, no man may condemn; and they who have them not, no man may absolve.-It should always be borne in mind, however, that while faith and repentance are essential conditions of forgiveness, they are by no means the meritorious cause of it. That is to be sought alone in the righteousness of Christ, who "is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." The Absolution being thus declared for our comfort, the Church may well exhort us to "beseech Almighty God to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit:" A continued and abiding repentance, that we may bring forth fruits worthy of it; and the constant assistance of the Holy Spirit, "that the things which we do at this present;" that our penitence, our prayers, our praises, and our thanksgivings, "may be pleasing in his sight;" "and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy ;" "so that at the last " we may receive the reward of our faith and our obedience, even "his eternal joy," through the merits of our blessed Redeemer;-who by his precious death has purchased for us pardon and absolution of all our sins; who is now a prevailing intercessor with the father for the blessings we im plore; and who will at his coming to judge the world, receive us into those heavenly mansions, which he has gone before us to prepare for every penitent and sincere believer.

T. C. B.

(11.) The form of Absolution which stands second in order, in our service, is petitionary. But though, according to ancient usage, it be put in the form of a request, yet like the paternal benedictions recorded in Scripture, it may be considered in some way instrumental in conveying the blessing it invokes. Thus Isaac besought a blessing upon Jacob, (Gen. vii. 28.) thus Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, (Gen. xlviii. 15, 16.); and God was pleased to ratify and fulfil their benedictions. And since this prayer for absolution is made by a commissioned Embassador of Christ, and is ground

ed on the divine promises, we need not doubt but God will mercifully pardon all those for whom it is offered up, if with "hearty repentance and true faith they turn unto him."

truth in the form applies at any time, and by whomsoever said, the proper conditions being found; and that the only difference between its being declared by a proper minister, or by another person, is, that the former is acting under commission, a circumstance the most likely to wing what he says with comfort.

pitieth his own children, even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him." (Ps. ciii. 13.) He then intimates that God is not only engaged by his paternal affection but also by his truth to forgive them, for he hath "promised" that he will freely pardon, and be fully reconciled to all such as unfeignedly repent of their sins, and cast themselves upon his mercy.-The latter part of the Absolution contains every encouragement, of mercy, pardon, and deliverance, which the contrite heart can need or desire. Are we miserable? The "mercy" of God is invoked upon us. Are we sinful? There is "pardon" for us. Are we liable to punishment? The message of "deliverance" is proclaimed to us. Are we desirous, but unable to do good? There is "strength and confirmation" for us. Are we fearful of death and hell? The benediction of heaven and everlasting life is imprecated on us. All this is asked of God, by one whom he has commissioned to declare his mercy and dispense his blessings. It is therefore only necessary that our repentance should be sincere, and our faith unfeigned, and we may be assured that God will ratify in heaven, what is thus done by his authority on the earth.

T. C. B.

The introducing in this place of the second Absolution, the same as in the communion service, has been objected to on a ground not foreseen. My view of the subject, and I suppose that of others, was as follows. The words of the first Absolution, fall short of the precatory form which prevailed in the primitive church, and indeed seems below its name; for although it affirms a certain authority in the speaker, he is not made to exercise the authority on those before him, however possessed of necessary requisites. The other form used in the office for the "visitation of the sick," and properly discarded from ours, is in a tone not warranted by ancient usage. The unforeseen objection, has been grounded on a wish to restrict the precatory form to the time and to the recipients of the communion. I fear that this countenances the delusion of recourse to the holy ordinance, as a periodical sponge. Perhaps, a similar abuse may be incidental to Mr. Wheatley's notion of the passing of pardon at the instant of the minister's reading of the Absolution in the service. The correct doctrine, as apparent to me, is, that the

BP. WHITE.

and at the end of every Prayer, AMEN."

The word here enjoined to be used is originally Hebrew, and signifies the same in English as "So be it." As it is used in the Common Prayer, it bears somewhat different significations according to the different forms to which it is annexed. At the end of Prayers and Collects, it is addressed to God, and signifies "so be it, O Lord, as in our prayers we have expressed:" but at the end of exhortations, absolutions, and creeds, it is addressed to the Priest; and then the meaning of it is either," so be it, this is our sense and meaning," or "so be it, we entirely assent to and approve what has been said."

The practice of signifying assent by the word Amen, was common in the Jewish Church. So it was also in the Christian Church, in the Apostles' days: "How shall he, that occupieth the room of the unlearned, say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?" (1 Cor. xiv. 15.) Ecclesiastical writers inform us that it used to be pronounced audibly and fervently; each one expressing his own faith or desire, and animating that of his fellow worshippers. We should therefore give this proof, among others, that we not only hear the service with attention, but join in it with earnestness.

In the English Book it may be observed that the Amen is sometimes printed in Italics, and sometimes in Roman letters. The reason is believed to be this:-At the end of the Collects and Prayers which the Priest is to repeat or say alone, it is printed in Italick, a different character from the prayers themselves, to denote that the minister is to stop at the end of the prayer, and to leave the Amen to be responded by the people. But at the end of the Lord's Prayer, Confessions, Creeds, and Doxologies, and wheresoever the people are to join aloud with the Minister, as if taught and instructed by him what to say, there it is printed in the same character as the offices themselves, as an intimation to the Minister that he is still to go on, and by pronouncing the Amen himself, to direct the people to do the same, and so to set their zeal at last to what they had been before pronouncing. Though the American Printers have not preserved this typographical distinction, propriety seems to dictate that the Ministers should not neglect it.

But after all, it must be carefully borne in mind